Early Admission Program Requirements
The Early Admissions Pathway (4+1) is for academically advanced juniors and seniors majoring and minoring in criminal justice at Bridgewater State University who wish to take up to two graduate courses for undergraduate credit and thereby accelerate the completion of their MS in Cybersecurity and Justice. The Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice and MS in Cybersecurity and Justice provide academically advanced students an opportunity to challenge themselves by beginning graduate work while finishing the BS degree. Through this program, it is possible for exceptional students to complete both degrees in five years. Additional benefits include a waiver of the application fee and reduced tuition costs (equivalent to saving six credits at the graduate rate).
Students interested in the Early Admissions Pathway (4+1) should contact the DGCE Graduate Criminal Justice Coordinator early in their junior year. If accepted, students will be granted special status to enroll in two graduate criminal justice courses for undergraduate credit. One of those courses will be CYGR 500 Introduction to Cybersecurity and the second class will be determined by the DGCE graduate chair. Tuition for these courses will be at the undergraduate rate. Applicants must be criminal justice majors at Bridgewater State who have a 3.3 minimum overall GPA.
• Applicants may apply any time after completing 75 credit hours.
• There will be no additional charge for taking a graduate course in the evening.
• Once the student has matriculated into the graduate program, their graduate courses (with a minimum grade of “B”), will be applied to their MS course requirements, reducing post-grad coursework.
The following are required to be accepted into the Early Admissions Pathway (4+1) program:
• Early Admission Application
• Resume – A resume that demonstrates the applicant’s potential for leadership and academic achievement as evidenced by activities during their professional career or undergraduate studies.
• Minimum GPA of 3.3 – Students must have achieved an overall minimum Bridgewater State University GPA of 3.3 at the time of their application.
• Letters of Recommendation – Three appropriate letters of recommendation, two of which must come from full-time BSU criminal justice faculty. (Applicants with questions on whether they have worked with or taken classes from a full-time faculty member should contact the DGCE graduate chair for guidance.)
• Statement of Purpose
Timeline:
Students entering the MS program directly will typically complete it in four or five semesters. With the Early Admissions Pathway (4+1), students may start taking graduate courses during their undergraduate program. Students may complete their bachelor’s and master’s degrees via this pathway in as little as five years.